Grand Union to begin listed building transformation

Art gallery and artist studios complex Grand Union is beginning the transformation of a grade II-listed building in Birmingham to provide new office and workspaces.The first phase of works will renovate the front part of Junction Works, creating four new office suites for regional creative sector businesses by the beginning of 2022.The project is supported by a funding package comprising £500,000 from Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund, £25,000 commercial sponsorship from Stoford Development and £150,000 private investment.Junction Works, a mid-19th century building, is located in the Warwick Bar conservation area, at the junction of the Grand Union and Digbeth Branch canals. It has been empty for several years after suffering fire damage in 2004.Several Birmingham property sector businesses are providing support to the scheme. Bruntwood Works, the workspace and leisure provider behind Cornwall Buildings and Cornerblock, is leading a project team including Associated Architects, DW Consulting, Robinson Low Francis and Ramboll UK.BPN Architects and Fieldfisher Law Firm have also provided support to the project. Construction company GRAHAM, which has recently completed the renovation of The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, will be completing the first phase of refurbishment.Grand Union’s fundraising campaign has a target of £2.6m to undertake phase two works, which will involve the opening of a public gallery space, cafe, events space and artists’ studios.